Job Details

SummaryThis professional Social Worker is assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) with responsibility to provide social work services to adult and geriatric Veterans (including hospice and those with dementia) receiving care in at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System. This Social Worker will provide services to Veterans seeking these services and timely response to individuals in psychosocial crisis in the CLC - as well as supporting the behavioral health needs of those in crisis.QualificationsApplicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United StatesEducation: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accreditedA doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social workVerification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social workLicensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree levelCurrent state requirements may be found by going to may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinationsThis exception only applies at the GS-9 grade levelFor the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certifiedAt the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above - candidates must meet the following grade requirementsSocial Worker - GS-09 (1) Experience - Education - and LicensureNone beyond the basic requirements(2) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors(b) Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goalsThis requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies(e) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment proceduresThis includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuriescommon medications and their effects/side effectsand medical terminology(3) [Entry Level] AssignmentsIndividuals assigned as GS-9 grade level social workers are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised - as they are not yet functioning at the independent practice level conferred by independent licensure or certificationSocial workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experienceDuties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitationproviding education on advance directives and advanced care planningproviding social work case managementacting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiverassessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity - in collaboration with the Veteran - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teamsmaintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referralsSince social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level - they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required - such as in a CBOC - unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practiceGS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervisionSocial Worker - GS-11 (1) Experience and LicensureAppointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice levelNOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3cOR (2) EducationIn addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting(3) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services(b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds(c) Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.eacute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan(d) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals(e) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment(4) [Full Performance Level] AssignmentsSocial workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social workIncumbents are assigned to all program areas - including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - and geriatricsEmployees provide professional - independent social work services in the assigned areaDuties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violenceuse of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directivesand acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiverIncumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - identifying the Veteran's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity.DutiesNOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this positionFor more information - refer to Required Documents belowTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to support Social Work Service programming and must possess the knowledge of implementing treatment modalitiesand how to do the following: 1) identify level of functioning - degree of impairment in occupational - social - academic - interpersonal and family area2) evaluate and assess lethality - 3) perform mental status exams (MSE) - 4) identify psychiatric manifestations of various medical conditions - 5) assess and intervene with patients of suspected abuse and provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families and groupsMajor duties include - but are not limited to: Referrals typically originate from professional staff - from Veterans and/or their families seeking assistance - and from community professionalsDetermines the presenting problem - psychosocial factors impacting the problem - and obstacles to treatment and/or follow through with recommended treatmentsProvides social work case management coordination with members of the treatment team - to ensure a collaborative effort to meet the treatment goals for a VeteranActs as a liaison with community professionals regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their familiesEstablishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families with proficiencyWorks with Veterans and their families experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problemsCompletes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the mental health diagnosis - psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their familiesUtilizes assessment in developing and implementing a comprehensive treatment plan for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicableUses demonstrated knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures - which includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their side effects - and medical terminologyConducts psychosocial assessments of high-risk patients to identify suicidality through use of the Suicide Risk Assessment (SRA) and other appropriate tools independentlyParticipates actively as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team through collaboration with Veterans and family - in the development and implementation of treatment goals and interventionsFacilitates action for community placements through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate community placements are completed in a timely mannerImplements psychotherapeutic treatment modalities - provide educational classes - and/or treatment and supportive groups for Veterans and families based on knowledge and abilityProvides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits and specialty programs - and advance directives - which includes the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services - information - and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - and community programsProvides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning and compliance with treatmentMaintains knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services - community resources - and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agenciesMust possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing with people from varied backgroundsPerform other assigned duties as assignedWork Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8 AM to 4:30 PMRecruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified candidatesPermanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized for highly qualified candidatesPaid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a childRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Telework: ADHOC- May be available for highly qualified candidatesVirtual: This is not a virtual position#J-18808-Ljbffr